By Ishola Haroon Balogun

The fasts of Ramadan have been prescribed for all Muslims for the development of the soul and for enabling it to subdue the carnal appetites. This much exertion and sacrifice of sensual desires have been made obligatory for every Muslim that he neither ate nor drank anything nor sought sexual satisfaction during the whole of the blessed month, in compliance with the command of Allah (SWT) and with the intention of paying divine honours to Him.

Along with it he is to avoid all sinful acts and worthless things. It is for the general, compulsory course of spiritual training and self-purification for the month of Ramadan and for higher spiritual upliftment that I’tikaf becomes necessary. But what are the conditions?

The Conditions
1. Sound state of mind: Thus, the person must not be mentally unstable;

2. True Faith (Eeman): Belief is the only thing that distinguishes the non-Muslim and the Muslim performing itikaf.

3.Permission: I’tikaf would infringe on marital rights with his wife and other members of the family if their consent is not sought. Similarly, if one’s parents are not happy about his absence for days, then the child is not permitted to go forth for this act of worship.

4. Intention (Niyyat): I’tikaf must be performed for the purpose of seeking closeness to Allah and not to show off or due to societal or family or peer pressure;

5. Fasting (Sawm) During I’tikaf: the person who is not able to fast, for whatever reason, is deprived from the Divine grace of being able to perform I’tikaf.. Therefore, if a person is a traveller or one who is not able to fast due to some danger to his life, he can not partake in I’tikaf.

6. Permission: One must have the permission of the person whom he needs to gain permission from to carry out this act (guardian, husband, etc) to ensure the correctness of the I’tikaf.

7. Place: One must stay inside the Mosque for the entire period for his I’tikaf to be correct.
Prayer of the day

Rabbana wa ‘atina ma wa’adtana ‘ala rusulika wa la tukhzina yawmal-Qiyamah innaka la tukhliful mi’aad. Amin.

Our Lord! Grant us what Thou didst promise unto us through Thine apostles, and save us from shame on the Day of Judgment: For Thou never breakest Thy promise [3:194]

Amin.
“O Allah, on this day, open for me the doors of the heavens, and lock the doors of Hell from me, O the One who sends down tranquillity into the hearts of believers, give me peace and accept my prayers.” Amin.